Lil Shauna is Home!

We fetched her from the hospital last evening. She weighs a healthy 2010g. That marks the start of my (real) motherhood. Lil Shauna & I went to my mum's place to spend the rest of my confinement. Daddy Lim stayed for the 1st breastfeed session at 9pm before heading home to a big bed and a peaceful sleep. On the contrary, I was jittery all night.


Lil Shauna slept well after her feed. I tried sleeping too, but not very successful. I would stir at the smallest noise that she made and kept tossing and turning in bed. Soon, it was 1am and I tried waking her up for her next feed but she was not too cooperative. She only suckle for 20 mins and gave in to the Zzz monster. I gave up too, comforting myself that she's probably still full from the last feed. I finally drifted off to dreamland.

My mum was sleeping beside me. Her presence didnt comfort me. In fact, she's a bigger gan cheong spider than me. At 4am, she jumped when Lil Shauna cough (yes, a mere cough) and I jumped out of sleep as well. Aiyo! Just nice, Lil Shauna woke up for her next feed. I spent an hour breastfeeding her and changing her soiled nappy. She really poo poo alot. Then I tried coaxing her back to sleep. It was peaceful again until I was waken by engorgement at 8am. Since the little princess was sleeping peacefully, I went ahead to express. Right after I expressed, she woke up screaming for milk. -.o" Wat perfect timing. Looks like I will be spending the rest of my confinement doing the same thing over and over again. Haiz.

There will be no pix for awhile until Daddy Lim brings me the camera cable. Sorrie.
I think I have too much breast milk for Lil Shauna. When we fetch her yday, the nurse returned us a whole bag of frozen breast milk that I had expressed but Lil Shauna was unable to consume. They were pretty amazed at the amount of milk that I have. Hahaha.. Good, I hoped I can stock up to put Lil Shauna exclusively on breast milk up to 6 months. I am a cow..

Mummy Lim

Lil Shauna's Homecoming

Daddy Lim received a call from the nursery this morning. They called to inform that Lil Shauna can br discharged at noon today! I have a medical appointment at NUH at 11am and Daddy Lim has a medical appointment at AH at 11am too. Although we half guessed that she's coming home soon, the fact still very much shocked me. While in the car to NUH, I was rattling off the list of things yet to be done. I still feel very unprepared. I am going to be a real mummy soon.

As Daddy Lim still have to go back to office after his appointment and I am sure that I cannot handle the baby on my own, we'll be picking her up in the evening. The nurses are fine with the arrangement but reminded that we'll incur an additional day's charge. We have yet to pay a single cent to date and have no idea how much cost we have incurred. But since I and Lil Shauna are paying subsidised rate, I think the bill is reasonable and a large part can be covered by medisave.

So, that leaves me an afternoon to pack bag, run around alittle and get ready to welcome Shauna home. Okie, got to go, update later ya. I hope Lil Shauna will be as well-behaved as Daddy Lim deem her to be and leave me some time to update the blog. Hehe..

Mummy Lim

Lil Shauna's Bash

The stupid computer is still down. We are unable to retrieve Shauna's folder, all the fotos are gone! Luckily, we have yet to delete the fotos from the camera. So I spent an hour in the middle of the night (while expressing) to create a new folder and to reorganise the fotos and burnt them into a CD. I m glad that I did, cos the stupid computer logged me on as a temporary user (again)this morning and I lost the newly created Shauna's folder!!! Luckily, I can still use the internet. Else, I would probably smash the computer and demand a new one from Daddy Lim. Alternatively, he can wake up in the middle of the night and keep me accompany while I express milk. Hehehe. Oh, Daddy Lim is not gg to India today. There is not enuff time for his visa application. Haha.

Lil Shauna is 1960g yday. Aiyo, we were a little disappointed cos she was piling on alot of weight just 2 days ago, but oni a mere 12g increase yday. We are hoping to bring her home over the weekend, not sure if it is still possible. By coming Sunday, she would have spent 3 weeks in the hospital & I lost 3 weeks of bonding time. That leaves me only 7 weeks of maternity leave to learn how to take care of her (I m taking 10 weeks straight and staggering the last 2 weeks). However, we believe that it is all in God's hand. If she has come home earlier, I probably wun be able to handle her.

We havent decide on the full-month bash date. All bcos her popo cannot make up her mind. Tsk, tsk.. Remember that she insisted that the bash must be held within one-month from Lil Shauna's date of birth? Tat would mean 7 Jun 08 as we wanted to hold it on a Saturday. However, I m supposed to be still doing my confinement then, and she found it too early too (5 days from the actual one-month). So, she's contemplating 14 Jun 08 now. I mean, it cannot be the case where there's a whole spread of good food and poor me has to hide in the kitchen to eat confinement food mah. So, our dear popo cannot make up her mind and wanted to check with this other auntie who oso held her bb's full-month bash 2 days later than the actual 1 month. Haiz, she's just trying to comfort herself. I have been telling her all this while that it doesnt matter to hold the bash later than the actual one-month and she just cannot stomach it. Yet, she will be happy to hold it later after checking with this other lady. As if she's not the only precedent case, maybe then her gods cannot fault her (alone) since others are doing it as well. Faint. Well, if it makes popo happy, Lil Shauna will be happy to obey as well. Afterall, Daddy Lim still insist that Lil Shauna is the most well-behave and obedient baby around. -.o"







This is our sleeping beauty and Daddy Lim enjoying his new-found daddy status.












Sometimes, I am really amaze at how this little cutie pie is able to change her daddy from some "act-cool" hunk into a SNAG instantly. Just look at the way Daddy Lim holds her. Hahaha, Daddy Lim is going to kill me. ;p
Mummy Lim

Going to be Real Parents soon

The computer has gone crazy. I took more than 30mins trying to switch it on, constantly pressing the restart button. It finally comes alive but on duno wat profile and Shauna's folder is gone! So no fotos for now, until Daddy Lim manages to resolve the problem. Sorrie.

Lil Shauna is growing! She's 1948g yday, another big jump of 41g! Hopefully she will sustain her growth and we can probably expect her back this weekend! Then I will really start the rest of my confinement. -.o" I will be shifting to my bro's place and probably come home only at the end of the confinement month (which is only 1+week left). Haiz, the tot does put me off alittle. Not that I dun like my bro's place, just that I am already so used to the freedom despite doing confinement. Now, I can express milk as and when and in anyplace that I so like, I shower and wash my hair when I see the need to and even manage to sneak out to shopping mall or cinema (hehehe, bad mummy). The internet is my faithful companion while expressing, especially in the middle of the night. If I am at my bro's place, I can picture my mum's constant nagging (though she meant well) and me hiding in the room expressing. Haiz. I mean, I cant be half naked in my bro's computer room mah. ;p Still, I have tahan for Lil Shauna's sake. Actually, it is more so the fact that I dun think I can handle her on my own. ;p

Yday, it dawned on me that I am going to be a real mummy soon. For the past 2+weeks, the only mummy thing that I do is to express milk regularly and to visit her for a short while everyday. When she's back home, I have to do real mummy's things like breast/ bottle feed her, thaw expressed BM, change her, take care of her, bathe her, etc. Oh gosh, I had been praying that God will prepare me, but I feel the least prepared. I have always wanted her to come home soon, but the fact that she is really coming home soon has turned me into a gan cheong spider. Hmm.. I hope practice makes perfect.

Then, there is the full-month bash to think about. We didnt work on it as we have no idea when Lil Shauna is coming back. Now that it is soon, we dun have much time left.. We have to come out with the guest list, order buffet, invite the guest, etc. Faint, so many things to do. Oh, it oso reminds me of a conversation that I had with my mum. She's overly concerned about some Chinese tradition and insisted that the bash must be held before Lil Shauna reaches one-month old. I was telling her that since we are not inviting our extended family, we can hack the tradition. Afterall, Daddy Lim's family are Christians and they probably wouldnt mind not sticking to the tradition. Moreover, Daddy Lim, myself & Lil Shauna are believers too and we dun care as well. ;p Still, if possible, we would want to follow Mummy's instruction and make her happy. Oh gosh, how little time we have left.

Daddy Lim oso dropped me a bomb this morning. He just received an email from boss for a trip to India tomorrow. -.o" No details yet. Aiyo.. So many things happening at the same time. Not sure if he will really kena the trip or someone else will take over.

Okie, got to go, need to pack my bag, fold clothes, search for buffet and finished the rest of my VCDs before Lil Shauna comes home, hehe.

Mummy Lim

Growing Baby

Lil Shauna is growing. Thank you for all the prayers. :)
She's amazing 1907g yday, an increase of 51g! I m not sure if it is bcos the nurses made a mistake, the weighing machine is not accurate, Lil Shauna drank extra milk or watever to boost the sudden growth. We were just dancing with joy to noe that she's putting on weight fast. Hopefully, she will be home with us this weekend. seriously speaking, we are really tired with the shuffling between home & hospital. Jia you, abit more niah.

We constantly look thru her old pix (i.e. taken when she was just born) and realised that her appearance has changed a fair bit. Luckily, she has grown prettier..




When she's 1-day old.









2-day old





4-day old














7-day old







11-day old







14-day old








Taken yday, 16-day old



Mummy Lim

How Heavy Are You Today?

Lil Shauna was 1856g yday morning. She has put on 66g since Friday, i.e. a mere 22g each day. Haiz, the nurse says that average should be 25g wor. She's doing below average then. I think she poo too much. Daddy Lim joked that maybe they forgot to feed her. -.o" Faint.. At this rate that she's growing, it will take her another 7days to reach 2kg wor..

I breastfeed her yday though it was not her feeding time. Her feeding is supposed to be at 8pm and we saw her at 7.20pm. However, she started getting cranky and displayed her usual "give-me-milk-or-I-will-eat-the-cloth" behaviour. Daddy Lim cannot bear seeing his little ger go hungry and insisted that we feed her. I let her suckle for a long while, until she fell asleep. We returned her to the nurse at 8pm. Hopefully, she can down her 40ml at the 8pm feed and gain more weight.

I was less upset yday. So the nurses look friendlier too. Haha. We oso joked with them alittle. Maybe with friendly parents, they will treat Lil Shauna better? Hehe. When we were leaving, we saw a baby boy who is just as tiny as Lil Shauna. The nurse said that he too was just transferred to the nursery from the NICU, waiting to gain weight. Maybe that was Lil Shauna's neighbour when she was in NICU.. or maybe it was her boyfriend. Hehehe..

This is how she looked when she's hungry.. Give me MILK!!!

Mummy Lim

My Little Pink Book

Lil Shauna just received another gift today. It is a little pink book from Mummy L & J. Hehe, Mummy Lim was just about to start a Lil Shauna foto album. Looks like she will be pretty busy with all the art & craft stuff. :)

Thank you babes.

Mummy Lim

I m Upset...

We visited Lil Shauna in the evening. Just as I expected, things were better when she's in the NICU. At the nursery, visiting hours are stricter. Either 12nn to 2pm or 5pm to 8pm (they allowed parents to visit until 9pm though). The ratio of nurses to babies is definitely smaller, so they are probably less detail minded and less regular checks. The nursery is attached to the normal ward (mainly for mummies who just delivered), thus the nurse usually "push" the babies to the mummies' bedside. As I am no longer warded, there is not much space that we can use when visiting Lil Shauna. We were told to use the day room, which is non-aircon and there were others inside. We changed our mind (in using the day room) when we heard an uncle coughing away. Luckily, the breastfeeding room was available. In the event that it is not available, I duno where else we can use. Haiz..

We cant enter the nursery. We have to wait for the nurse to fetch Lil Shauna and bring her to us. The nurse was going for her break when we took Lil Shauna, a covering nurse forgot to bring her milk to us. -.o" Luckily we asked. We didnt stay long, just in case others wanted to use the room. When departing, I checked with the nurse on Lil Shauna's weight and she couldnt answer me!!! She told me that it is 1800+g. Of course I noe that, cos she is already 1790g on Friday. She definitely put on more than 10g over the weekend mah. The nurse went on to say that they will take her weight again after her night shower, which is supposed to be the most accurate, so we can find out tomorrow. Wat an excuse for not knowing her work!! Ok, I noe, I noe.. It is not really her fault, they just took over and I am upset.

I left with a heavy heart. When Lil Shauna is in NICU, I really believe that she's in good hands. Since she is still so little, I tot she will be better off in NICU than at home with me. However, now that the nurses at the nursery are just feeding her at 3 hours interval, changing her nappy and bathing her, I think she's better off home with me. Yet they wun discharge her, not until she's 2000g or at least 1930g. That is wat the nurse says, but I take it with a pinch of salt. Afterall, she cant even tell me how heavy Lil Shauna is. Haiz, I wonder how many more days she needs to reach the 2000g milestone.

Please pray that:

1. The nurses and docs will pay extra attention to Lil Shauna (the nursery is meant for normal full term babies who are 2+kg, 3+kg, not preterm babies like Lil Shauna);

2. Lil Shauna will quickly hit the required weight to go home;

3. The breastfeeding room will always be available when we visit Lil Shauna, so that we have a place to use;

4. I will be able to cast all my anxieties to God and convert my worries to prayers;

5. God will protect Lil Shauna from germs and not let her fall sick.

Lil Shauna appeared not to realise that her surrounding has changed. She was sleeping soundly when she was brought to us and half-asleep throughout feeding. She only opened her eyes for awhile after we feed her. Oh, we kissed her for the 1st time. Since she's out of NICU, I supposed it meant that she's stronger and more resistant to our germs? Hehe.

Mummy Lim

Normal Nursery Ward

The nurse from NICU called Daddy Lim in the morning to inform that Lil Shauna has been transferred to the normal nursery ward. I wonder if that is good or bed news. I always tot that Lil Shauna will be discharged directly from NICU. Her transferring out probably mean that she is totally fine, just need to gain that 210g to reach 2kg. However, there are more nurses in the NICU and she gets more attention and more regular checks. Daddy Lim says that I worry too much. I guessed so too, but which parent wouldnt. Anyway, we will visit her at the nursery later. We really appreciate all the love, care & concern that the NICU nurses & docs have showered on Lil Shauna during these 14 days. :)

Mummy Lim

Indiana Jones

We went for Indiana Jones with C & S yday, after visiting Lil Shauna. Tot that we should indulge in some entertainment before she comes home. It had been a long time since we caught a movie. The last one was Jumper on V Day. After I became preggy, I hated the cinema. It is almost as if the seat gets smaller (or I get bigger) and the air gets thinner. I always feel sick, giddy and breathless the moment I sit down in the cinema. As such, I did not enjoy the last movie and refused to step foot into the cinema thereafter. Poor Daddy Lim. He adores gg to the movies. We used to catch some shows every week, regardless of whether they are good movies. He has to resort to watching Iron Man alone right before I popped. Sorrie bb.

Anyway, Indiana Jones is a disappointment. In my memory, Dr Jones was some super gao(2) person who solves mystery, riddles & find treasure. In this movie, he wasnt the gao(2) one but some other Professor who gone nutty midway. Aiyo, the image of my childhood hero has been tarnished! National Treasure would win over Indiana Jones anytime.. Haiz..

Oh, S commented that I looked pale. She asked if I m still plagued by bleeding gum or bleeding watever. No leh. I feel fine just a little tired with all the running around and expressing milk. Maybe it is bcos I am Thala minor, thus low in iron. Then I realised that I m super busy despite on maternity leave without the baby. This is typically how my day goes.

0630 - wakes up with Daddy Lim
0715 - Daddy Lim drives to work, I drive back
0745 - express milk + bfast
0845 - watch TV,surf net, blog, go hospital, clear work from home or office or rest
1100 - express milk
1200 - go mum's place for lunch
1300 - watch TV,surf net, blog, go hospital, clear work from home or rest
1430 - express milk
1630 - fetch Daddy Lim (depending on wat time he knocks off)
1800 - dinner at Mum's place
1900 - visit Lil Shauna
2100 - back home, shower
2200 - express milk
2300 - bedtime
middle of the night - express milk
brand new day, routine starts again.

I wonder how much busier life would be when Lil Shauna comes back home. -.o"

I was feeling alright during the show, though it takes some getting used to. Midway thru the movie, I tot I felt pain in the chest. Then I got worried bcos S said that I looked pale (me & my super wild imagination). Then I realised that it is engorgement.. -.o" One side of my left breast was super hard and painful to touch. It was throbbing with pain when left alone. Towards the end of the movie, I started leaking milk. It had been almost 8 hours since the last milk expression. Aiyo and I have no breast pad on. I never tot I would leak milk mah. Luckily, it was just a tiny bit and we live so near. So pai seh. We had to rush home to express milk. The engorgement disappeared thereafter. Heng... I was just saying the other day that I have no engorgement and I have no idea how it felt like. Now I noe.

Mummy J said that the leak milk on the breast pad will smell like Lil Shauna's poo poo at the end of the day. How comforting... Daddy Lim says that he can smell milk on me. He says that the computer room smells of milk too (I normally express in the computer room). Oh gosh, I didnt noe that my BM is so powerful. I am immuned to the smell. Lucky me and poor Daddy Lim. Hahahaa..

Mummy Lim

Wat did she eat?

Shauna was only 1790g yday, a mere 14g increase. Oh well, at least she's feeding well. she manages to finish all her 40ml each time. Not sure if the docs are gg to increase her milk intake, but she sometimes still look hungry after her feed.

Anyway, I tried nappy changing yday. Daddy Lim has gentlemanly allowed me to try the 1st go. While "unwrapping" the nappy, I was hoping hard that there will be no poo poo. Fortunately, there was only alittle bit. I followed the nurse's instruction and clean her up very quickly. Daddy Lim then took over and bottlefeed her. Midway thru' we can see Lil Shauna concentrating very hard. Then we heard farting noises.. not once, but twice.. She poo poo so much that the poo poo started leaking out. -.o" After feeding, I encouraged Daddy Lim to try diaper changing, I already tried once. Should take turn mah.

There was so much poo. Poo was everywhere. We were glad that we already had dinner. The smell was... phew.. we need a mask! Daddy Lim did a great job! I was laughing at Daddy Lim and was so glad that I didnt have to deal with so much shit earlier on. So much so that I forgot to take foto. -.o" Lil Shauna has given him a great gift. Lol! Daddy Lim claimed that he could still smell her poo after leaving the hospital. Haha.

This morning, I was at the hospital at 8.30am to look at how the nurse bathe Lil Shauna. They made it look so easy. Then I bottlefeed her and the same thing happened. I nappy changed her and there was again so much poo with the horrible smell. Wat on earth did she eat?! I swear that my BM smell nothing like her poo! So where did that smell comes from? And they say that babies who drink BM has nicer smelling poo. I cant imagine the poo of babies who drink FM then. Faint..

Picture time..

Mummy Lim

My First Car Accident

Dun worry, I m fine.. but Jazzie is not. -.o"
Haiz, I didnt want to blog about it, super pai seh. But Daddy Lim says, "Isnt blogging about everyday life?" and "Dun we all learn from mistake?" Such deep teaching huh? I b sure to blog about his stupidity the next time. Lol!

Anyway, I was on my way to fetch him from work. At that kind of hours, Tuas will be filled with lorries and buses and wat-have-you. The roads dun grow bigger and I have to squeeze my way to the yard... Ok, ok, I admit, it is my poor driving skills. I just cant estimate how big Jazzie really is and how much space I need. Driving is so unlike riding, where eveything is opened and you can see exactly whether you can go thru'. Thus, I stupidly brushed against the end side of a lorry. The lorry is totally fine, but poor Jazzie..









This is taken from within the car. Ya, the left mirror is totally off the hook. We have to leave it inside while driving to the workshop. That means, no aircon while driving. We were perspiring like mad.

The serviceman wasnt willing to do a quick fix. He said that it is very bad. The entire left mirror needs to be changed. I have to go back to the workshop at 2pm today. That will oso leave us $420 poorer! A left mirror cost that much!?!? Sob.

We did our own quick fix. I thank God for the person who invented blue duct tape. Not just any colour, but the shade of blue that coincides with our Jazzie's blue. Daddy Lim did a fine job (temporary) in putting the left mirror in place. I tot he was alittle pissed when he first saw the damage. However, I was almost in tears and he was the most reassuring. Thank you, bb. :)

This morning, I still drove back the car after he drives to work. However, I was more gan cheong and has the tendency to jam brake or smash the horn at the slightest hint of possible accident. I do hope that practice makes perfect. -.o" Sob, I still prefer riding.. bit with Lil Shauna, I dun think that is possible..

OK, back on Lil Shauna. She's 1774g yday. She put on 34g! Wat irony, Mummy is trying to lose weight here while praying that Lil Shauna will gain weight quickly. Hehe. She's feeding well. We managed to feed her the entire bottle yday. Burping is still an issue. She's super funny when she's hungry. She will open her mouth and suck at whatever that is near to her mouth. She must even try the cloth that they used to wrap her before she decides that it is not edible. Haha.

Daddy Lim is overwhelmed by pride and ego. In the past, we used to worry that Lil Shauna will turn out not too pretty. Like what if she blames us for her big nose, curly hair, leg hair, big mouth, etc.? Yday, after visiting Lil Shauna, Daddy Lim proudly proclaims that Lil Shauna is the cutest and most well-behaved baby in the entire NICU ward. -.o" I guessed it is the same with all parents, especially the Daddy with their little ger huh.. I mean, he didnt even walk the entire ward to look at other babies. He claimed that Lil Shauna is well-behaved simply bcos we didnt hear her cry loudly and/ or non-stop. Well, he cant decide again when Lil Shauna is back home. Hehe.

Mummy Lim

Blessings

Blessing #1:
We received 2 hampers last evening. One from the gers in the office and the other one from my insurance agent. I bet my agent wanted us to buy Lil Shauna's policy from him. We havent decide yet, been too busy running around. Anyway, the gers got me a walkie-talkie, something that I have asked for. This will help when Lil Shauna starts sleeping on her own.

The one on the left is from the gers. Thanks gers. The bear is so cute. Lil Shauna has a new toy added to her collection. She says "Thank you" to all the aunties for the blessed gift. Dun pretend, all are aunties, no jie jie. The flowers are so pretty, lazy mummy will wait alittle while more than unwrapped. I will oso consider donating the walkie-talkie to auntie SW when Lil Shauna is old enuff and #2 is nowhere in sight. Then she will be able to hear lao ban clearly at all times. Lol! :)

Blessing #2:
I had been praying for ample ss of BM. I think there are many who had been praying for me as well. God hears and I am blessed with more than enuff ss.
This is what we brought to the hospital yday. I think they should be able to keep Lil Shauna full for awhile. Haha. Now, I can express about 160 - 170ml of BM per pump. Daddy Lim and I were joking in the morning that Lil Shauna might get choked on too much BM. ;p I think it pays to psycho myself into believing that I am a cow.. Moooo...

Blessing #3:
Although I grumble, I appreciate my mum for taking the trouble to cook the confinement food for me. I am even more so grateful to Daddy Lim, brother & SIL, who suffers with me as we eat similar food day after day. Daddy Lim complains of ulcer. He said that the food is too heaty for him. Still he goes home for dinner with me everyday. :)

Blessing #4
I guessed there are people who read this blog and cares alot about Lil Shauna's progress. I noe there are people who prayed for us too. Thank you. :)

Updates:
Lil Shauna is 1740g yday, an increase of 40g! We tried breastfeeding her and bottle feeding her yday. She's doing well. I am learning how to pay attention to her breathing during her feed. She does concentrate too much on drinking, then she will stop to breath hard/ pant. I have to learn how to pull away her bottle. Yday, Daddy Lim and I kept telling her to breath, as if she understands. -.o" I oso have a hard time trying to burp her. She simply refuses to burp, even when Daddy Lim did a perfect demonstration in front of her. -.o" This is where patience is supposed to come in huh. Haiz.. Oh, did I mention that she cleared her hearing test too? :)









This is our little princess who is finally awake. :) So hard to catch her with eyes open. I think she has double eyelid. Hehe. Now, who does she looks like? :) If she is pretty, then must be me. Lol!

Mummy Lim

Updates on Lil Shauna

Lil Shauna is now 1698g and she is taking 40ml per feed! The nurse was telling us that on average, the baby will put on 25g per day. Thus, to reach the 2kg mark, Lil Shauna will probably need another 12 days in NICU before she can go home. However, she might oso put on weight faster as they increase her milk intake. I wonder if that is good or bad news. On one hand, I really hope to have Lil Shauna home. Yet, she looks so fragile and I wonder if we are able to take care of her on our own. She's in good hands now. The docs and nurses are all so experienced.

She still look suspiciously yellow. Daddy Lim agreed on that too. Do continue to pray that the jaundice will stay away and she will continue to feed well and gain weight.

I am attempting to breastfeed her almost yday. Managed to latch her on yday cos she was fully awake. However, we have little luck when we try to supplement via bottle feed cos she's almost into dreamland. The nurse took over and she finished her 40ml in a short while. The nurse was constantly pulling out the bottle and pulling down the lower jaw to let her breathe. Apparently, pre-term babies automatically rolled up their tongue, thus blocking the airway. So, while feeding, we have to constantly pull down her jaw (thus her tongue) to help her unblocked the airway. The nurse said that they will grow out of it when they hit the 2kg+ mark. I hope she grows out of it by the time we bring her home. -.o" I dun want to suffocate my baby while feeding her.. Scary..

I think we were unsuccessful with the bottle feed bcos we are too gentle with her, constantly worrying that we will hurt her. The nurse appeared to handle her roughly but that is probably bcos we are too soft. She taught us how to wake her up during her feed by *hitting* her on the sole. In the event that she turned blue, a hard smack on the sole will make her cry, thus allowing her to take in oxygen. Haiz, it is tough being parents, worse, to parents of pre-term babies. Do pray that we will have the wisdom to handle her. The nurses encourage parents' participation. Not only on breastfeeding, but from nappy changing to bathing. The nurse even encourage us to learn how to bathe her. Faint.. I replied that I will bring my mummy along. Lol!

Oh, we saw that the nurse actually gave her a *modified* pacifier. We only came to noe yday that she suck on pacifier and we got her a proper one. The ones that we bought for her previously are a little too big for her small mouth. So, this is her with the *modified* pacifier. She looks so cute while sucking. I went ga-ga over her. Haha, as if I have never seen babies sucking on pacifier.










Mummy Lim

Jaundice, Jaundice, Go Away..

Went to visit Lil Shauna in the afternoon with mum.
She looked suspiciously yellow to me. Mum said that too. The last time my mum noticed that she was yellow, she went under teh UV light the next time. I checked with the nurse and she said that the doc last checked on her (via blood test) on 18 May 05. Her index then was normal, which is 196 (duno what is the normal range though).
The nurse said that no test had been conducted since. Anyway, the docs did their round this morning and nobody mentioned anything about jaundice.
Pls help to pray that she will not get jaundice and need not go under the UV lights again..

Mummy Lim

Things to Watch Out For...

We went to the hospital at 5pm to breastfeed Lil Shauna yday. As usual, she is sound asleep. I managed to squeeze the n****e into her mouth, but she simply refused to suck. We attempted for 20 mins before we finally gave up. We switched to bottle feed instead and saw some progress. She was sucking so slowly. After 40 mins, she was unable to finish the last 5ml. We gave up and brought her back to the nurse. While feeding, we tot we heard her grasping for air.. At certain point, we really felt lost, not knowing wat to do. I wanted so badly to shake her and ask her to wake up, haha. After the feeding, we felt thankful that she is in NICU, under the docs & nurses' great care.

At 9.30pm, Daddy Lim suddenly asked if I m keen to visit Shauna. He misses his little ger. So we drove all the way to NUH to see Lil Shauna again. As the nurses were less occupied, one of them was nice enuff to take time to talk to us, asking us about the earlier breastfeeding attempt. The nurse was saying that pre-matured babies tend to be more sleepy and they have less energy to suck. As such, there are times that they dun latch on as well. So, there is no point insisting that they latch on. The parents should move on to bottle feeding if the baby really refuses to latch on. Sometimes, they dun even feed well via bottles. She oso mentioned that it is important for the parents to observe the baby during feeding. Pre-matured babies are less good with coordination. Thus, when the are hungry, they might concentrate too hard on sucking and forgot to breathe.. -.o" As such, the parents must pull away the bottle/ breast when the baby starts turning blue. They will start turning blue from the nose and to the rest of the face.. Duh! I was like dumbfounded loh. It is already so difficult to feed her and now the nurse is telling me that the baby might suffocate during feeding!!! Aiyo, so pressurised. I was wondering how blue is blue? But I think the nurse did say that they will grow out of it (I really hope that she said that). She said that the parents of pre-matured babies must give their babies more time and have more patience with them. Okie, I think I have to start praying for patience..

Mummy Lim

Good News!

A big thank you to all the uncles and aunties who are praying for Lil Shauna and we give thanks to the great Lord who has been protecting and watching over her. We went to visit her yday. The UV lights are off. Her milk intake has been increased to 35ml per feed. Her drip is off. She is currently 1660g. I can express about 80 to 100ml of BM each time, which is more than enuff to meet her needs.

We are really glad that the drip is off. However, just like her jaundice, the doc will have to monitor her. If she's not drinking properly, then they have to put the drip back to prevent dehydration. We are a lttle disappointed to hear that she's only 1660g, which is much lower than her birth weight of 1890g. She's still 340g away from the 2kg mark, that is merely the weight of a can of coke! Haiz, but it sure looks like a big milestone to her. Not sure how long it takes but it looks like she will still be in NICU for a while. But we give thanks that she is recieving good care from the docs & nurses in NICU. We would have more sleepless nights if she is home with us now. Pix time.

Peek-a-boo! She's nicely wrapped up in the afternoon.

Grandaunt came to visit and pray for Lil Shauna too. She's soundly asleep thru'out the whole time.

Daddy Lim tried his first attempt to feed Lil Shauna. I tried breastfeeding last evening too. She latched on only on 1 breast and was half sleep thru'out. Then she refused to suck. -.o" We tried to supplement via bottlefeed but she too refused to suck. The nurses said that they will monitor her and give her somemore BM if she's hungry. They were very reassuring, asking us not to worry and say that Lil Shauan will cry should she gets hungry later on.

Do continue to pray for us, that:

1. The jaundice will not come back;

2. Lil Shauna will feed properly so that the drip can stay off;

3. Lil Shauna will remain healthy; and

4. Lil Shauna will pile on the required 330g quickly, so that she can come home soon.

Mummy Lim

Shauna's Baby Cot

We bought Lil Shauna's baby cot some time in April. Then, I didnt foresee that I would develop pregnancy complications and asked them to deliver the cot only in early June. I started calling them in late April when I realised that I might pop early. But the cot was out of stock. Finally, I made arrangements 3 weeks ago to deliver the cot on 17 May 08 (yday). I tot we would be in time, but apparently not.

Anyway, this is the sweet baby cot that we have bought for Lil Shauna. It can be converted to a junior bed when she is older. I am intending to let her sleep on her own when she's about 6 months old. Not sure if we would be successful.

When we were assembling the cot last night, we realised that it will be super big for Lil Shauna, especially when she is so small now. Daddy Lim says that we can use the bed for many years. Haha. That is provided that his little princess cooperates with us lah. :)

Oh, my BM is kicking in. I can now easily manage 60ml of milk at each pump. My breasts oso start to leak when the time is up. Haha. I think I have more than enuff milk for Lil Shauna. She only drinks 25ml at each feed now. Nevertheless, I think it is a good thing if she goes exclusively on BM.

Oso, my elephant feet seems to have come down. I am still trying to put them up whenever possible. This morning, it looks as if there is minimal swelling and I was surprised at how skinny they used to be. Lol! They still hurt a little, but I hope they remain that skinny.. ;p

Gg to visit Lil Shauna later in the afternoon. Daddy Lim is at work. I do hope that she is no longer jaundiced and they have taken the UV light off. haiz..

Mummy Lim

First Breastfeeding Session

As arranged with the nurse, we went for our first breastfeeding date with Lil Shauna today. They didnt expect us to be breastfeeding gurus. They just wanted us to have a feel of how breastfeeding is like.

The nurse started preparing once we were there. Lil Shauna was taken out and wrapped nicely (remember that she was sunbathing and only have her nappy on?) before she was handed over to us. Then the nurse taught us how to position her nicely so that she can latch on. She is so fragile. Pai seh to say, but I really think that her mouth is a little too tiny. Hehe. Anyway, we managed to latch her on. Only after a little while, my arms started aching. I think it must be the way that I carry her. Then she started to fall asleep. -.o" The nurse commented that she is sucking and not latching on. Hmm.. duno wat is the difference. Anyway, she took a long while and kept falling asleep. The nurse and Daddy Lim have to keep stroking her cheek to remind her to suck.

After 5 mins at each breast, she was taken off. Apparently, the session didnt turn out too successful cos she was still hungry and she can see her mouthing for food. Lol! Super cute. The nurse went on to feed her some more milk before she is finally happy and settle back to sleep.

We have another breastfeeding date with her tomorrow. Sorrie, no fotos to update ya. Too RA. ;p Oh, I will be trying my hands at nappy changing too. Today, after the nurse took off her old nappy and wiped her, Lil Shauna started peeing. She dirtied her beddings. -.o" I heard from Mummy pei that babies always do that. Catch you right after you took off their old nappy and spray their pee at you or everywhere else, just not into their old nappy. Haha.

Oh, my BM is increasing too. I think I can easily managed 30 to 40ml each session now. I think the amount will continue to increase. Hehe, I am a cow. My efforts are paying off, those initial painful squeezing with little or no milk. Jia you. Will have to try to continue to express every 3 hourly (even in the middle of the night) to keep the BM gg. Yeah!

Mummy Lim

Jaundice II

Prayer request!
We visited Lil Shauna this afternoon. Apparently, the jaundice is back and the UV lights are on. To get her *sunbathing*, the nurses have to strip her naked (short of her nappy) and give her *sun shade*. So, no more beanie, mitten or bootie. She looked so fragile with just her nappy and orh-bit *sun shade* on. Didnt take any pix at all. Dun like the nakeness and the UV light on her. Sob.

The nurse mentioned that her jaundice is at 265. When jaundice 1st hit her, the nurse said that normal should be 160. Today, the nurse said that the normal index varies on the no. of days and she didnt say wat normal should be. (err.. I am just as confused as you are). Anyway, she said that the UV light will help and the doc will make an assessment accordingly.

Do pray that she will recover from jaundice ya. We heart pain to see her under the UV light.

Mummy Lim

Our First Encounter

As usual, we went to visit Lil Shauna last night. Just as expected, the boy twin was no longer around. It must have been super sad for the parents. The ger twin is still in the incubator. I was feeling anxious right before I went into the ward. I was so scared that I will not get to see Lil Shauna or see something that I do not want to. Was praying for God's protection while walking to the ward.

Amazing, Lil Shauna has been transferred to a different kind of bed. There are less machines attached to her. She no longer need the warmer to keep her temperature stable. Instead, she was wrapped up tightly, just like how normal babies are wrapped. The nurses are so nice, they gave her a rainbow beanie, a pair of mittens and 1 bootie. She only has 1 bootie cos there's a plug attached to her other foot (ouch!). She looked so super cute and much, much better than when she 1st went to NICU.

Look at the rainbow beanie. Super sweet, right? She was sleeping soundly when we went to visit her. She looked so serene. The nurse oso mentioned that the jaundice has gone away, but she will need further monitoring.

This is Daddy Lim trying to help Lil Shauna wear her bootie. I think it is a little too big for her, but too small for Daddy's huge hands.

We were just nice for her feeding. She has been "promoted" to 25ml! Seriously, I am a little confused as to how much she is exactly feeding now cos the doc that we seen the other day told us something else. Anyway, 25ml was what she had consumed last night and it was my BM! The nurse was so kind. She wanted us to try feeding her! Oh gosh, I get butterflies just at that tot!

So, for the very first time that she was born, I get to carry her and feed her. It was quite tough cos she's so tiny. She fell asleep during the feed. -.o" I oso have to stop midway to burp her, she cant consume all the milk at one go. Her mouth is so small, barely big enuff to mouth the teat. She looked and felt so fragile and I was worried that I might hurt her. It took us a long time to finish 25ml of milk.

Daddy Lim got to carry her as well. Look at how happy he is. This is his first time carrying his little princess. Awww, how sweet.

I think henceforth, we will get to feed Lil Shauna should we visit her at the right time. I am supposed to go visit her at 2.30pm today and the nurses are gg to teach me how to breastfeed! Oh gosh, I am worried that I wun do a good job, that Lil Shauna cant suckle properly. Regardless, we have to start somewhere ya. I also feel so encouraged. Had been trying to express at 3 hourly interval. I think BM has kicked in, but the volume is a little on the low side. I oni managed to squeeze out 30ml each time. It is okie, I will continue to try to milk myself for Lil Shauna's sake. Praise the Lord for His protection!

Mummy Lim

Ouch!

There was this pair of twins that came into the NICU last night. A boy & a ger. They are really small. Only 26+ weeks. The sister was in an incubator but the bro was not. They were placed right beside Lil Shauna. There are so many tubes running in & out of them. We saw the parents and grandparents visiting them last night.

This morning, I went to deliver my BM and visited Lil Shauna before going for my medical apptm. Before I entered the ward, I saw that there was covering put up at the bro's bed/ box (duno wat you call it). Immediately, I dun feel good. When I entered the ward, I saw that the parents were there. I think the bb boy didnt make it. Sob! The sister was still in her incubator next to him. I felt so jittery. All of a sudden, I felt worried and frightened for Lil Shauna.. So many "what ifs" come into my mind. I started worrying when the machines monitoring Shauna started beeping (they always beeped and the nurses are not the least worried when the machines beep). I didnt stay long.

I went for my medical apptm and spent 2 hours waiting. Doc Han was super nice. She is off today and suggested visiting me. She tot I was still warded. Anyway, since I was in NUH, she dropped by and paid me a visit. Actually, she's super worried for me. I guessed my medical condition was bad when I was preggy, people who were medically inclined noe how bad the situation was. As for myself and Daddy Lim, we tot that everything was under control (bcos my gynae was always smiley and ever so reassuring when he sees us). I knew that I was developing pre-eclampsia, but just didnt noe how serious that condition is. Anyway, I have delivered and hopefully, I will be back to my healthy self soon. I am still on BP medication and will have to return for another medical apptm 2 weeks' later. Hopefully, my BP will be stabilised by then and I can be taken off the drug.

After the apptm, Doc Han managed to sneak into the NICU ward to visit Lil Shauna. The coverings were still there. This time, both the granparents and the parents were there. I think the machines were off. So super sad. I didnt stay long, couldnt bear too. We will go back to visit Lil Shauna tonight and to deliver the freshly expressed milk. I think my BM is kicking in. I managed to express 20ml today! Super big achievement! Haha. I think Lil Shauna doesnt even drink that much. I must maintain my ss so that she will have nice BM when she is home, hehe. oh, I drove to NUH and back home on my own today. Hehe. Another big achievement. Mummies can do great things for their kids. :)

Mummy Lim

Milk Making Machine + Confinement

It is almost 4am in the morning. Daddy Lim is sleeping soundly in the bedroom while I am typing with one hand and holding on to the breast pump on the other (oops, sorrie, too much infor). I dun think the breast milk has kicked in fully yet. I dun feel engorgement but my SIL was saying that not all mummies get that wor. She felt perfectly fine when having #2 princess. I am trying to express as regularly as possible to stimulate the breasts and maintain milk flow. Was a little encourage to see that the ss increasing, though at an amazing slow rate. The 1st few attempts were super painful.. Must tahan for Lil Shauna's sake. :)

This is my output for the last attempt. Yes, it is pathetically little, but a great milestone for me. I got way lesser than this when I first started. This morning, I opened the freezer in my mum's house and saw my SIL's BM sitting nicely inside. I was so full of envy. Can only continue trying and pray that BM will increase. Personally, I think BM is easier to establish when the baby is around. I think the mummy body will start to have milk producing hormones when the bb is near or starts crying. As for me, I am relying on God's grace and Lil Shauna's foto + video. Dun worry, I am still trying and not giving up yet. Whenever I see Shauna, I just want to get the milk going. ;p They say that breastfeeding burns calories. I think that is true, cos I feel so hungry whenever I am expressing. Haha.

Strangely, my feet are still swollen, especially after too much standing or walking. Daddy Lim said that it took me 9 months to get swollen feet, so I should expect that much time to get rid of them too. Make sense, but faint.. He said that they are better than during pregnancy, but I think no difference leh. Anyway, I would oso like to intro my 2 new found friends. I would have suffered miserably without them.

The nipple cream and the float are my life-saver for now. Hehe.

I dun think I am doing well as somebody who has just given birth. My confinement plans are in a mess. A woman who has just delivered is supposed to stay at home, wrapped in layers of clothes, avoid the fan and bath under special conditions. I am doing none of that largely bcos Lil Shauna is still in the hospital. My mum is trying hard to accommodate, but she often threatens about wat will happen to me in the future. Haiz..

I was right under the fan when I was in the 6 bedded ward. I would have gone crazy without the fan.. I showered & washed hair in the hospital on the 3rd day that I delivered. I would have gone crazy too if I havent done that. I smelled terribly and my hair was lumpy.. I am glad that I did. It made the stay at the 6 bedded ward much bearable. I am running around after I was transferred to the 6 bedded ward. I was even driving and at Jurong Point yday. No choice, have to learn to deliver the milk to hospital on my own cos Daddy Lim will be back at work. Hmmm, do pray for me that I will suffer from none of those ailments that my mum said bcos I am not doing confinement properly ya. Oh, for journey mercy too. Have to drive on my own to NUH later.. gan cheong..

I am almost done with my expressing. :) Regardless, I felt so much better physically now than during pregnancy. Oh, I am eating well too! Haiz, how to lose the weight gain then? -.o"

Mummy Lim

Shauna's Progress

So far so good, doc said she's now doing 20ml/kg of weight/24hrs(milk intake), thats about ... I duno lazy to calculate hahaha

Shes also off the UV lights though still under observation for jaundice. If she looks suspiciously yellow, they'll bloodtest her to check.

Doc says that she'll need about 14days for her to gain back the weight that she's lost earlier. We think that with God's help she'll do just fine. She appears to be sleeping soundly everytime we go see her. She does'nt stir so often and we hav'nt heard her cry for the longest time. Thats a good thing though =)

So some pics of sleeping beauty hehehe

And of course she sleeps like her daddy:

That's it for now, we would like to ask for prayers for..
a) Shauna's health and early discharge
b) Plenty of breast milk for the growing child
c) and for Mummy Lim to recover quickly from post-delivery
Thanks very much to all!
Daddy and Mummy Lim

I am home!!

It is so nice to be home after spending 4 days lying in the hospital. However, we clearly see God's hand in this. As mentioned in the earlier post, we went to NUH, A&E bcos of bleeding gum. We didnt expect Shauna to come.

They detected my extremely high BP while I was in A&E and I was pushed immediately to the delivery suite (intensive care) and had many people worked on me (dentist included) at the same time. Things might have been very bad should there been delayed. I opted for a 6 bedded ward bcos we knew that Lil Shauna would need the NICU for a few weeks. We ended up paying subsidized rates for Shauna and I get to stay in a 1-bedded ward for 2 out of the 3 nights that I was there (at subsidized rates too). Should I have gone to TMC A&E instead, I would have probably stayed in a 2 bedded ward and we would have incurred hefty medical bills for Shauna.

The last night in the 6 bedded ward was quite miserable. I prayed hard that God would allow me to go home. I was quite thrashed when the possibility seems slim in the morning, but God made all things possible. My bp was in the healthy range, I was able to pass urine on my own and the docs were glad to let me go. So here I am, typing away. Haha. Some details of wat happened the last few days.

11 May (Sunday)

0730: woke up to bleeding gum with no apparent reason

0900: went to dentist after soaking 3 gauze

1030: seen dentist but amazing bleeding stopped on its own

1200: went Mothers' Day lunch with family

1300: went guitar shopping with Daddy Lim

1330: bleeding started again

1500: heading to NUH, A&E as per gynae's advice as bleeding refused to stop

1600: rushed from NUH A&E to delivery ward due to high bp detected

1700: a group of gynaes, nurses started working on me, setting plugs, giving drugs, etc.

1930: 1st steroid jab to strengthen Shauna's lungs

1945: dentist managed to stop bleeding gum and bp stabilised

12 May (Monday)

0038: felt 1st contraction

0155: nurse affirmed what I felt = contractions and will ask doc for medication to ease contractions

0209: water bag burst, doc explained that they will not try to stop contractions due to high bp

0210: started experiencing contractions every 3 to 5 mins interval

0300: given laughing gas to help ease contractions, 2cm dilated

0400: begged doc for other pain killer

0410: given pain killer via jab on thigh

0510: pain killer easing off, 5cm dilated

0515: asked for epidural, doc trying to stimulate baby and make sure that she's okie before administering epidural

0530: felt urge to push

0535: 8cm dilated, too late for epidural

0540: fully dilated, starting pushing

0617: Lil Shauna meets the world

Like wat Daddy Lim said, I didnt get to see much of Lil Shauna before they sent her off to NICU. As I was confined to bed, Daddy Lim took lots of pix for me. I only saw Lil Shauna on Tuesday morning, before I was wheeled to the 6 bedded ward. She was so tiny.. Arrhhh.. my heart melted.

I tot that things would return to normal after Lil Shauna meets the world but things are not as rosy as I expected them to be. The 1st scare came when my uterus was unable to contract and I lost a whole lot of blood on 3 separate occasions. The docs literally dug out the blood clots from *there*.... I was eventually given drugs and the docs and nurses kept pressing and massaging my uterus to make sure that it was contracting well. The pain was bad. Then they were worried that I might develop fits bcos of the high bp before delivery. That got me jittery as well and I kept imaging things. Now, Lil Shauna is still in NICU and I am trying hard to produce milk. My nipples are so painful. Sob. I oso feel so sore down there. Double sob..

Anyway, this is one of my favourite pix of Lil Shauna.

These were taken this morning. She looks much better already. Pardon us if the photos dun do her justice ya.

Mummy Lim

Shauna the Gatecrasher

Mummy Lim is still asleep.. Poor girl, woke up in the middle of the night to try to express milk.. ok I post some pics first. She may put up more later.
Heres the little sleepy one: Mouth tube needed to clean out stomach said the docs. She's off the tube now and getting fed through the bottle @ 10ml/feed. Here's her with a beanie: She looks so sweet!

Finally the two blur parents. We forgot to put her Christian name "Shauna" in the BC. *slap head*









And here's one where she does'nt look too pleased at having UV lights shining at her. She's also feeding on her own so the mouth tube has been removed.

Daddy Lim